To create home comfort, some people buy new furniture, while others like antique things.
However, creative individuals successfully decorate an old mirror with their own hands to give the room individuality. Thanks to this, ordinary glass turns into an original element of the interior. There are several principles that help beginners learn how to create magnificent masterpieces. Let's find out what the experts say. On this topic:
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What materials can be used
Although the decor is made from scrap materials, you need to purchase a few things:
- Glue and paints, including in cans, as well as varnish.
- Paper masking tape to separate and limit areas of the work surface.
- Twine, rope and wooden skewers, if you like the design of the frame in these materials.
- Liquid silicone for gluing beads and glass marbles, which may also need to be purchased.
- Contours and stained glass paints for painting and filling patterns on the mirror itself.
- Gold leaf and stencils to achieve the effect of antiquity.
- Oil paints and brushes for artistic painting.
- Solvent for thinning paints, varnish, removing bad fragments and washing tools.
A heat gun and glue in sticks will be a good helper. Not all of the materials listed will be needed. The choice depends on which decoration method you prefer.
It is worth noting that expensive art materials can often be replaced with budget ones - from the construction department. Especially if large-scale work is expected.
So, objects to be painted can be glued to the frame with acrylic sealant, which is sold not only in white, but in black, beige and brown.
Silicone sealant with a smell is inexpensive, but it contains acid, which, before it dries, eats away paint and mirror amalgam. Thus, using a caustic compound you can glue the beads onto the mirror itself. To fix decorative elements on the back of the mirror, you should choose a neutral sealant.
In addition, in construction stores, spray paints are also cheaper than in art stores. The range of coating types includes matte and glossy monocolor, hammer effect, crackle, sand.
Varnish in building materials is also available in glossy, semi-gloss and matte. Acrylic, alkyd and nitrocellulose. The price of a liter jar is similar to 100 ml of varnish in the art department.
When choosing, pay attention to the drying time of the materials - until they set. This is the period of time when corrections can be made to the work.
Comfortable and attractive materials - buttons, coins, keys and beads. Natural - branches, shells, stones, cones.
A mirror decorated with disassembled clothespins looks unexpectedly interesting. Plots with nautical motifs will perfectly support ropes and twine.
Material | Features of the material | In what interior styles can it be used? |
Natural wood | Rich appearance, environmental friendliness | Classic, art deco |
Textile | Easy to use, environmentally friendly | Provence, classic, postmodernism |
Natural materials: dry plants, shells, stones | Availability, the ability to create the most unusual variations, environmental friendliness | Provence, loft |
Decorative elements: beads, beads, foamiran, pieces of broken multi-colored glass | Beauty, style and modernity | Pop Art |
Various household items (disposable tableware, clothespins) | Cheap, easy to use, the ability to create a very original product | Modern, eclectic |
Unusual frame made of wooden pegs
Methods for attaching mirror tiles
Installation diagram of mirror plates.
Fastening with self-tapping screws differs from gluing; if necessary, any tile can be removed and replaced if it is damaged. This method is used if it is not possible to level the surface or if you need to decorate the ceiling space as quickly as possible. However, if there are significant differences, this method is not recommended; it is best to prepare the surface.
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To make a mirror ceiling using this method, you need to prepare the following set of materials and tools:
- mirror tiles;
- decorative special screws;
- drill;
- building level;
- protective gloves;
- pencil.
The work is done this way:
- First you need to calculate the number of products and screws. After this, markings for fastening are carried out.
- Using a drill, holes are made for fasteners for the tile itself and for the section of the plane.
- The tiles are screwed to the ceiling surface using decorative screws. When drilling holes, it is necessary to apply the tile to the base so that all fastening points coincide. It is advisable to make position marks on the inside of each element that will coincide with the marks on the ceiling. Then installation will be quick and easy.
A mirrored ceiling is an unusual but beautiful surface design option. It can be done in various designs, but the simplest is the option of gluing the tiles to the ceiling in a small area. This makes it possible to highlight a certain space and make the interior more attractive. The work itself is simple, you can handle it even without much experience.
Ideas for decorating an old mirror: benefits of the procedure
To breathe new life into an old mirror, you can completely replace the frame or update the existing one. The following popular techniques will help with this: decoupage, gilding, aging and many others.
Simple Braided Rope Frame
There are many advantages to homemade decoration:
- By creating mirror decor with your own hands, you can get a product of any shape and size.
- The opportunity to receive an item that will 100% harmoniously complement the interior of the room.
- Saving money - buying materials and decorating the product yourself will cost 3-4 times less than buying a ready-made mirror.
Spectacular three-dimensional frame made of paper strips
An accessory made carefully with your own hands is the only one that can decorate an apartment. Such things are individual and inexpensive. Handmade products are expensive. The second advantage is freedom in choosing the material: beads, beads, old boards, leather and much more.
These mirror frames are environmentally friendly and are not treated with substances hazardous to health. And the right design visually expands the boundaries of the room.
Designing a mirror yourself has become so fashionable that it is difficult to list the options that have accumulated in practice:
- Framing with wooden or multi-colored plastic clothespins is both cheap and practical, it is possible to clamp notes;
- Tubes rolled from colored magazine pages and glued around, painted to match the wood;
- Cut out fabric patterns pasted onto the edges of the mirror and frame;
- A frame covered with spices, herbs and other products: pasta or coffee beans, peas and beans, seeds and nuts;
- Aluminum wire finishing;
- Decoration with pieces of mirror with translucent coating;
- Decorated with leather rollers with padding polyester inside;
- Plaster stucco for classic, baroque or retro style;
- Small old toys painted the same color pasted onto the frame;
- Cover the frame with shells or pebbles.
DIY mirror: decor options
The easiest way to decorate a mirror is with regular paint. You need to choose the right paint not only by color, but also by the nature of the frame material. The mirror frame can be painted in a neutral, solid color or bright, with contrasting patterns. The only thing worth considering is the harmony of the interior colors.
The mirror can be decorated with artificial flowers. You can take flowers of different sizes and glue them in any order. The gaps between them can be filled with beads, sequins, sparkles or beads. A mirror decorated in this way will look beautiful in the bedroom.
A good option for decorating a mirror is ribbons. You can make many different colored bows in different sizes and attach them to the frame. In addition to bows, you can cut small squares from multi-colored ribbons and place them on the frame, creating a patchwork fabric. This mirror will look great in the hallway.
To decorate a mirror in the bathroom, use ceramic tiles or CDs. You can decorate a mirror using the mosaic technique. For effect, use bright or mirrored tiles. This option is quite labor-intensive and time-consuming, but the result is worth it.
A mirror for a children's room can be decorated with a puzzle. Buy a children's puzzle and glue its pieces onto the frame to create a picture. This method is original and bright, your child will be delighted!
Decorate the mirror for the New Year
You can use rain, tinsel, garlands, paper snowflakes and angels. In addition, you can buy artificial snow at a special store and spray it on the surface.
Techniques for aging a mirror
You can give the frame an unusual aged look using acrylic paint. To do this, you need to cover the finished mirror frame with light paint, wait until it dries and apply another layer on top, but of a darker shade. Immediately after creating the second layer, it needs to be erased in some places using a regular sponge.
An aged mirror will fit perfectly into a loft style interior
Plastic spoons for a bright flower
The decor is suitable for a round mirror. The scooping parts of the spoons are used and the handles are cut off. Begin gluing from the inner row on top of the glass or behind it.
The next row is placed at the back, placing the spoons in the spaces between the two. The number of rows is at your personal discretion. To paint, take paint in a can.
Smooth pebbles will create a noble and discreet character. To make a frame for a mirror from stones, you should select them by color, shape, and size. You can even lay out a plot or stone patterns.
A frame with glued artificial glass or plastic multi-colored pebbles will bring a joyful mood.
For a style like in the photo of a mirror decor in the form of a luxurious flower, you need to prepare scoops from plastic spoons. Then cut out a round base from thick cardboard with a diameter wider than the mirror. You can use thin hardboard.
Place the mirror in the center of the base, circle and remove. Decorate the base with plastic petals, pressing them closer together so that the cardboard does not show through. Color the petals. When the work is finished and dried, a mirror is glued to the center.
The outer end part of the rings is decorated with sequins. For small work, it is better to use glue in a tube with a long spout. Moment Crystal will do.
A mirror frame made from disposable spoons will look no less unusual. Making it couldn’t be easier: you need to attach the top of the spoons to a previously prepared surface using a glue gun, and if desired, paint the composition with acrylic paint. To keep the frame neat, you need to cut off the “caps” of the spoons with a sharp object - scissors or a stationery knife.
Take a small round mirror
Draw two circles on a piece of cardboard - one the size of a mirror, the other about 5 cm wider
Trim the edges of the cardboard with scissors
Cut off the bottoms of plastic spoons
Glue the spoons in three rows using a heat gun
Spray paint spoons and cardboard
Attach a hanging loop to the back wall and glue the mirror itself to the front
This method of decorating a mirror has already been described - we take the decor and glue it on. But not on the mirror surface itself, but on the frame. The frame can be made from the same piece of fiberboard, or you can buy a mirror in a plastic (for example) frame.
Decorating the frame for the mirror
From mosaic
To create a mosaic you will need mosaic pieces; you can use fragments of ceramics or colored glass, mirrors. You will also need glue (silicone) and grout for the seams of ceramic tiles (can be white or colored).
From fiberboard (cardboard will not work, as the decor will be heavy), cut out a frame for the mirror, place it in the center, and draw an outline. Next, apply strips of glue to the frame and lay mosaic tiles or pieces of glass on it.
Mosaic mirror frame
After everything has been laid out and the glue has dried (about three days), take the grout and dilute it to a thick sour cream state (the proportions are written on the packaging). This mixture is used to fill the gaps between the tiles. When all the gaps are filled, remove the excess with a damp cloth. To prevent the mosaic from looking dull, you need to remove all the grout so that the tiles are clean. And this must be done before the grout dries.
Homemade mosaic mirror frames
This mirror decor is perfect for the bathroom. The decor is washable and fits well into the bathroom design concept. Such a mirror will look especially decorative if the mosaic is matched to the tone of the tiles.
Looks natural in the bathroom
Bright decoration on glass
You don't have to create a stylish frame to give an old mirror new life. It is enough to place elements of the original decor directly on the glass. For example, transparent pebbles of various shades, which are glued along the entire perimeter.
To create the decor of a large mirror with your own hands, use artistic painting. Stores sell different types of paints. Some are suitable for applying an outline to glass. Others paint various flowers, patterns and ornaments. Craftsmen especially like shiny glitters made in the form of circles, hexagons or stripes. The elements are glued to the glass surface using sealant.
In addition, the masters offer to create new ideas for decorating a mirror with their own hands, using:
- beads;
- fragments of ceramics;
- wooden frames with rhinestones;
- plastic rings.
Almost all work is carried out according to the rules established by specialists. The material is found at home or bought in a store. You also need to have alcohol on hand to degrease objects, brushes of different sizes, cotton wool, masking tape, and toothpicks.
For example, to make decor from beads, a place is set aside on the mirror for a decorative border. Then apply silicone with wavy movements and distribute it well over the surface. Beads are poured onto paper and carefully scattered, forming a border. After 72 hours the decoration is ready.
The mirror is attached to the wall and used for several decades. As you can see, in order to achieve the goal, it is important to be patient, turn on your wild imagination and start working with courage.
Mirror using steampunk technique (master class)
A frame made of paper lace looks very unusual and homey. It can be purchased at any store that sells disposable tableware.
We have to:
- Paper lace for cake.
- Double-sided tape.
- Round mirror.
- Covering paper.
- Aerosol paint.
- Scissors.
Technology step by step
Take some cake paper lace and spray paint it. Dry well for 1-2 hours.
Paint the lace with spray paint
Cover the back of the mirror with double-sided tape. Then cut off the protruding end of the tape.
Apply double-sided tape to the mirror
Trim the excess tape along the contour
Removing the protective film
Remove the protective film and place the mirror on the previously painted paper lace and press well.
Making external mounts for the mirror
Place a mirror in the center of the lace and press the tape well
Hanging a mirror on the wall
The final touch remains, attaching it to the wall.
These frames look especially beautiful if there are several of them!
The frame for the mirror can be decorated with artificial petals; they are usually sold in bags in goods for decoration.
Mirror decor with petals
For this we use:
- Petals of artificial silk flowers.
- Glue gun.
- Round mirror (or oval).
- Aerosol paint (any color).
Work order
- We paint the frame with white paint, how and with what to paint the wood - in detail in this article.
- Starting at the outer edge, use a hot glue gun to glue on the petals.
- And so we lay the petals row by row.
- We insert the mirror into the frame. Your amazing mirror is ready!
Row by row, hot glue the petals in a circle.
Finished mirror with petals
An unusual and modern mirror will be created if its edges are decorated with gold leaf. If you don’t find it, you can take regular thin foil.
Mirror decor with gold leaf
We have to:
- Glue gun.
- Mirror of any shape.
- Foil or gold leaf
Decor technology
- Take the foil and tear it into different shapes.
- Using a glue gun, glue the edges of the mirror with pieces of foil or gold leaf, placing them tightly on top of each other.
- Let dry for 1-2 hours.
Glue the foil onto the mirror with a glue gun
The more unusual the better when it comes to home decor items. To create a more original mirror, you can rely on steampunk - a science fiction movement inspired by steam energy of the 21st century. To create a mirror you will need levers, valves and gears made of metal, which can be purchased at craft stores or borrowed from mechanics, a glue gun and personal imagination.
To decorate the frame, you can use a variety of objects.
Sequence of actions:
- Degreasing the surface to be decorated.
- Gluing parts.
- Applying a protective layer of clear varnish.
A frame coated with paint to resemble old copper will look stylish
Such a mirror will fit perfectly into the interior of a teenager’s room, study, fantasy bedroom or living room.
Mirror in a marine style photo.
I suggest you look at a selection of photos of square mirrors, complemented by shells.
Such mirrors will highlight the interior design of the bathroom, hallway and bedroom. And how wonderfully they will fit into a marine themed interior!
Mirror in marine style photo
Round mirrors decorated with different-sized shells.
Such mirrors look very neat and quite compact, so they can be hung in any room of the house; in addition, such a mirror is perfect as a gift!
Oval mirrors decorated with shells and other seafood.
Such mirrors look truly cozy, they will instantly help to enliven the overall interior atmosphere. Just one mirror can dramatically change the entire home environment; thanks to its bright decor, it will become the main accessory in the house and will constantly attract attention.
Rectangular mirrors decorated with large and small shells.
This form of mirror is perhaps the most traditional and in demand. A large mirror, decorated with shells of various shapes, can be hung in a central place in the living room or dining room.
Mirror in marine style photo
A mirror is not only an object that helps you evaluate your appearance, it complements the interior, adds style and performs aesthetic functions. With the help of an originally designed mirror, you can significantly change the image of your home and give your home a complete look and unique style.